BYOD is opening corporate data to personal devices – what are the benefits and pitfalls of this strategy?
Bring Your Own Device – the state of play
Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) is a concept that has been gaining popularity in recent years, thanks to the prevalence of smartphones and tablets.
- 74% of companies already allow some form of BYOD usage (Enterasys survey).
- IT groups typically underestimate by 50% the proportion of employees using their own devices for company business (IDC 2011).
But what could it mean for your business and CRM system?
Pros – Yes! Bring your Own Device
- Those who use mobile devices for both work and personal matters put in 240 more hours a year than those who do not(Roger Bjork, director of marketing for Dell Enterprise Mobility Solutions).
- Mobile devices facilitate any time, any place access to your CRM system.
- Staff can be productive wherever, whenever.
- Reduced company outlay for mobile devices.
- Increased business resilience – your business can operate even if your office is closed.
- Data in your CRM system can be updated immediately, ensuring it is up-to-the-minute accurate.
Cons – No! Don’t Bring Your Own Device
- Technical support costs may increase as staff use a wide range of mobile devices.
- 3 in 10 choose not to use secure PIN locks on their smartphones(Motorola Mobility Survey).
- 50% of companies that apply BYOD assume responsibility for the costs of this policy(http://comaround.wordpress.com/2012/11/06/byod-bring-your-own-device-an-introduction/).
- 55% of staff admit they have sent work email or documents to their personal email accounts on their phones(Motorola Mobility Survey).
What you need to know
- In 2011, 53% of businesses had seen productivity improvements of more than 10% thanks to the use of personal devices at work.
- A further 16% of businesses reported increases of more than 30%(Cisco Systems, The Expanding Role of Mobility in the Workplace).
- If your business is not already in the 74% of those implementing BYOD, you could already be at significant competitive disadvantage.
Final thoughts
- Throwing your CRM system open to BYOD is a significant cultural departure from traditional IT security concepts.
- But the potential increases in employee productivity and revenue could make it a serious game-changer for your business.
